If you have been following our journey you should know by now that my favorite craft medium has always been yarn. That’s pretty obvious, right? (Haha!) But you wouldn’t believe that for quite some time I thought the only types of yarn existed are mercerized cotton and worsted weight acrylic yarns, simply because these were the only supplies available in our local craft stores. When I gave birth to my son and began searching the internet for more locally made crochet supplies, I finally discovered the existence of other yarns – from super soft milk cotton yarns to combed cotton, wool, gradient and colorful cake yarns.

However, as a stay-at-home mom I try to maintain a minimal budget for yarn. I only buy when I have a specific project in mind and when I get a request to make something for my family or friends. Now I’m always excited to try new projects because it also means that I get to try new yarns! I do have a decent stash but nearly everything in it is for a specific project, so keeping all the left over yarn even the smallest piece is a must. They always come in handy when I need to make a quick DIY project or gift. And speaking of quick projects, last May I added a new project on my list. Thanks to a fellow crafter who asked if I can crochet around beads. I tried crocheting around two plastic beads that I found lurking inside my desk and I was able to do it by following Craft Passion’s tutorial HERE.

If you’re a crafter or anything like me, you’ll know that I’m always fascinated about trying new projects but being caught up with household chores, taking care of my son and finishing multiple projects, I completely forgot about this new project until last week. As I was cleaning a drawer I found a broken stretch bracelet with ten small wooden beads. To save the beads I crocheted around each of them using my left over mercerized cotton yarns. Then instantly, I’ve got loads of ideas brewing for fashionable beaded items and I was quite giddy at the thought of it all. So over the weekend I visited our local craft store to see if they have those “undyed” wooden beads because I want to make something suited for babies as well like a nursing necklace or teether.  Turns out they only have one available size – the 1cm beads.

I bought a few pieces and tried crocheting around one small bead. I frogged and reworked the thing several times until I finally created the pattern that I wanted. After being inspired by Craft Passion’s tutorial, I decided to share with you all my own pattern of this inny-winny-tiny crocheted bead. These cute beads make the perfect kind of portable crochet project, you can easily pick them up when you are on holidays, traveling or stuck waiting. For a starter, I made a bracelet for my brother’s friend as a gift for her 18th birthday. I also made one for myself, for mama and for my sister. 

MATERIALS:

• Hook: No.8 JAPAN IMIA crochet steel hook (0.90mm crochet hook)

• Yarn: 100% mercerized cotton yarn, any color of your choice

• Small yarn needle

• Wooden beads (Size: 1cm)

ABBREVIATION/STITCHES:

• Magic ring

• sc – single crochet (US) / dc – double crochet (UK)

• inc – increase = two single crochet stitches in the same stitch

• dec – decrease = crochet two stitches together using the invisible decrease method

• st(s) – stitch(es)

• [sc, inc] n times – repeat the pattern between parentheses n times. 

• (N sts) – number of stitches in a round after finishing round.

If you need guide with the stitches, you can always check my post about Basic Crochet Techniques HERE. 

NOTES:

• Finished crocheted bead measures 1.4cm (half inch). 

• This project was made by crocheting in continuous spirals.

• Use a stitch marker and continue to move to every beginning of a round.

PATTERN FOR 1CM BEAD (4 to 4.5cm in diameter):

Begin with a magic ring, leaving a length of about 2-3 inches tail.

Round 1: sc 6 in a magic ring

After dong Round 1, pull the yarn tail but not too tightly leaving a small hole opening. I highly recommend putting a little thread (as a marker) in the first stitch of every round from here on.

Round 2: inc 6 times (12 sts)

Round 3: [sc, inc] 6 times (18 sts)

Round 4-5: sc around

 

At this point take the bead and pull the starting tail through the hole of the bead using your crochet hook. Tuck the bead into the crochet shell, it should fit well (see photo below). Continue to crochet around the bead.

Round 6: [sc, dec] 6 times (12 sts)

Round 7: dec 5 times

Fasten off and leave a tail about 2-3” long.

Thread in a yarn needle then whip stitch through the stitches of last round (I made 8 whip stitches). Pull the yarn tail tightly leaving a small hole for the bead opening. 

 

Tie the yarn tails tightly together.

Insert your crochet hook through the bead hole then pull both tails so they come out from the other side.

Cut excess yarn and you’re all done! 

Here’s how the beginning and finishing end of the crocheted bead will look:

With just few materials needed you too can easily make these. You can use them in so many other projects like additional accessories for a tassle charm, scrunchie or make your own beaded necklace. Maybe next time I will share other projects that I was able to finished using these crocheted beads. If you do end up making a project from my pattern, I’d love to see what you made! Take a picture and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #iheartgantsilyo and tag @iheartgantsilyo.